Artist: Adeela Suleman

“I attempt to resurrect a deeper sense of reflection on the historical and emotional landscape of Tipu Sultan’s era. An exhibition that delves deep into the life and legacy of Tipu Sultan, famously known as the Tiger of Mysore. This collection is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of Tipu Sultan and his father, Haider Ali, who resisted the British East India Company in their quest to preserve the sovereignty of Mysore. The imagery of historical events is meticulously crafted on vintage ceramic platters, chosen for their ability to merge the mutations of history with the permanence of legacy. Each piece vividly portrays significant events from Tipu Sultan's life, creating a tapestry of his significant struggle. From the intense confrontations of the Mysore Wars to the poignant exchange of his children as hostages, and finally, to the climactic siege of Seringapatam in 1799, these works invite viewers to witness the courage and resolve that defined Tipu Sultan's resistance”
– Adeela Suleman, July 2024

Grosvenor Gallery is exhibiting new works by Adeela Suleman at the Gallery.

Internationally renowned Karachi-based artist Adeela Suleman is known for the social and political commentary underlying her sculptures, which are created out of everyday objects. The recurring motifs in Suleman’s work - organic subjects such as birds and flowers - form detailed, repetitive patterns, which are replete with symbolic meaning.

Abstracted notions of loss and disappearance quietly resonate through her sculptures. In lieu of tombs, memorials and funerals, the works confront our earthly fears, but remain suggestive of transcendental relief. fragmented documentaries referencing recent violent and catastrophic occurrences within the artist’s socio- political landscape.

For the artist’s second solo show at Grosvenor Gallery, she reflects on the tumultuous life of Tipu Sultan, his conflicts, resistance and the legacy he left behind.

Suleman’s major solo exhibitions include Armory Art Fair (Aicon Contemporary, New York, 2021), Dubai Art Fair (Canvas Gallery, Dubai, 2020) and Ashes to Ashes (Sulli van+Strumpf, Singapore, 2019), while her major group exhibitions include Embodied Change: South Asian Art Across Time (Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle, 2022), M edia Art in Focus - Part III (Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, 2022) and the 10th Asi a Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (Brisbane, 2021-22), Allegory of War (Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, 2022)